Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1887-10-27

pc erssoiI To,tic na-tv has not had Controls
of both the Legislative and ExecuIEe ,a.. -or
ments OF the Governmea NJ TOT sinIt - ,o,h
hes II. since that date, had control % .- o
hranches of the Legislative oepor t,l
at the same time II can nO~ 49,
fore he Justly held responslplS So.
for the legislation or the . -
o,,c,, wider which this great increase OF eH-
nenditures was inaugurated ana hull $500
with the opposition OF kepuOhctIa - -
the Democratic House OF RepreseuS " 1000
SO far been unable either TO repeal or al
existing laws or properly to curtain e1Polo.
lures under them; and aithouSn TUG ~ -
Administration has succeeded, py caI'1.t,o
tention TO details, in efiecting very consloelHoo
savings in many branches OF the pubic ser'lces
the aggregate is stin much too large aLo Ousns
TO be further reduced. But this can DC 49, 49,
only by legislation, and II the TASK i lnoe
gently performed, upon dennlte system VI
man which comprehends the whole sub1eeb inc
expenditures will be greatly diminished aro az
the same time the efficiency OF the puohc serV-
ice will be materially promoted There - no"
to much machinery for the work TO DC done,
and too many engineers in charge OF IL
are too many bureaus, divisions anu euU0i'F
sons in and about the various oeparcmen.e,
and too little concentration OF labor anu oI1claI
responsibility. This complexities ana conIusess
the operations OF the Government, anu mules
the transaction of the public business Jealous
and annoying TO thF people, ana at Inc sanIe
time IL cocnpels the retention of many ofhciaLs
and employees whose services might otherwise
be dispensed with
is
publican party would make, or attempt u
make. any substantial reduction OF expencd-
lures, or give its support 10 ths necessary re-
form in the public service. IL >ould not &c
either without repudiating It's past oollcy anu
undoing its own work.
II we look beyond the ordinary oulSy lor
the support OF the Government, ana CO sloer
the general course of the two parties = <eI@-
ton to the appropriation and expenditure a
the public money for other purposes, the all
ference between them is, II possible stlll more
important In the matter OF pensions espe-
cially, the Republican party, in and out OF Con-
gress, has thoroughly committed itself 10 q
policy which if carried out, would bankrupt the
country, or, at the very least, subject the peo-
pie to a burden of taxation that would seriously
cripple and embarrass all their indus
tries. While it is Just and polite
that a Government Ike ours, which
maintains no large standing army, should
grant liberal pensions to its wounded ana as
abled soldiers and sailors, ana TO the WIDOWS
and dependent relatives OF those who have died,
the rights and interests of the great body of the
people, who pay the taxes. carry on the indus
tries and develop the resources OF the country,
should not be entirely disregarded Already
the United States are expending annually, on
| account of military and naval pensions, more
than is paid by all the other Governments in
the world combined; and as time passes and
| conditions change-as old age and disease over
| take the survivors of the late war, ane tre
wealth of the country increases-the benen~ OK
| the law will be extended and the allowances
1
| reasonable term of service and an honorao Ole
| discharge will receive the generous aid OF the
Government This policy is not only right in
itself, but it accords with the past course OF the
Government toward the soldiers of other wars,
| and no public of either party should OPP
pose it. But there is q limit to the tax-paying
| power of the people, and the real friend OF the
| soldier-not the mere politician who is seeking
| votes at the expense OF the public
| treasury, but the responsible legislator,
| who foresees the consequences OF bis
! action. and wants justice Zone to all classes
! Will proceed slowly and cautiously in a matter
| involving such vital interests. The Republican
party is in proper condition to control legis-
lation upon this subject. 1t can not halt with
out violating its pledges to the soldiers, and it
! can not proceed without doing an irrepRrable
| wrong to the Taxpayers.
The Democratic party has always been the
| friend OF the navy and the merchant marine,
and so long as it remained in power the Ameri'
can flag was displayed on every sea ana IN
every commercial port Seventy-hve years ago
when the Republic was in its infancy, our ships
| of war won imperishable renown in the conflict
with Great Britain. the boosted mistress OF the
seas, and up to the beginning OF tbs late civil
war more than three-fourths Of our foreign COM
commerce was carried in our own vessels
Now, after twerty-four hours OF Republican
domination, have naval establishment
worthy of The name, and scarcely more thar
one-seventh part of our foreign carrying trade
is done by American ships. II the
mere appropriation and expenditure Of money
an party h as thoroughly demonstrated it's quail
ifcat ion for the task. but unfortunately ALI Its
efforts to secure navy without either building
or buying vessels have signally failed Nor
was it any more successful in its attempts to
increase foreign commerce and revive the ear
rying trade by paying subsidies and boIr ties
out of the treasury. The paralyzing influences
OF barbarous navigation laws can not be oDVl-
ated by such artificial Btimulants.
Free ships and liberal laws for the regulation
of trade instead of restricting legislation and
unfriendly taxation, would do more IN few
years to restore our merchant marine and in
crease our commerce with South America ana
other parts Of the world than was accom-
plished during ell the time the Republican
party had charge OF the Government. Com
mercial treaties, while they may be desirable
under peculiar circumstances, arc generally
more favorable to party than the other,
and are therefore frequently unjust Besides,
they grant exclusive privileges and make
improper and Offensive determinations
against other friendly nations, thus pro-
voling a spirit of retaliation upon their
part which may greatly fntare the interests OF
our citizens abroad. AS a general rule great
power like the United States should always re-
tain absolute control over its own affairs, and
not embarrass itself by commercial or other
alliances with foreign Governments We have
IL in our own power without bargaining or con-
sulting with any other nation, TO adoDt a policy
which Will insure domestic tranQu =, extend
commerce, create new and profitable mar
kets for our products. revive our ship building
and ship-owning interests, and infuse new 10
and energy into every department OF industry.
It is the Democratic policy OF low taxation,
economy IN the administration Of public affairs,
non-interfererce with the private business OF
the people. equal regard for the reserved rights
CT the States and the constitutional authorltyoi
the Federal Government protection TO the citi-
zen home and abroad, and just and eqnaI
laws for the promotion and encouragement OF
every honest industry and every species OF
lawful commerce.